Should I tip the hairdresser?

[ItchyBites]

I'm going to have my hair cut and coloured tomorrow at a new (to me) hairdressers, and I'm not sure whether I should leave a tip or not. Backstory is that I've lived in Australia for nine years (where you're not expected to tip anyone but waiting staff in restaurants), and before that I dyed my own hair at home. I last went to a hairdresser in the UK about 15 years ago, and I did tip at that point, but I don't know whether it is expected now, and if so what would be an appropriate amount?

If it makes a difference, I'm going in for a bit of a radical restyle, having not had it done for a few months.

Please help! I don't know what to do!

I always do. Usually give 10% of my bill. I go to my hairdressers house so get it done cheaper. Sometimes she will say no keep the tip times are hard for everyone so I'm that case I usually give her a bunch of flowers on my next visit. Nothing expensive usually a few quid bunch from Tesco but she really appreciates them and can't tell me to keep them.

I've had same hairdresser for 20 years and consider her a friend so not sure if that makes a difference.

I always do. £5 for a haircut and £10 if full highlights.

I tip if I'm happy and have had a good experience. But it's not compulsory and many don't. See how you feel tomorrow?

I always give my hairdresser a £10 tip, so about 15%. I really value the service and always leave happy. Also, I'd be very embarrassed leaving without giving something! But I'm aware that not everyone tips and that some people can feel a bit uncomfortable with / uncertain about the whole tipping thing.

I dont tip anyone except waiters and sometimes takeaway deliverers

I usually leave a tip - a few quid for the youngster who washes hair and then a few for the stylist who did the cut. Only if I’m happy with the service.

I tip! About 10%. X

I tip but only a couple of quid. My hairdresser is quite cheap in fairness though so probably works about 10%, but I would probably only give a couple of quid regardless!

I used to tip ..now I can't afford to so I don't .

£60 for hair cut £120 for colour is enough.

I usually tip about 10% if I have the change to put in the tip jar. Sometimes I don’t in which case I’m a bit more generous the next time!

Thank you all! I'll get some cash for a tip on the way!

No.

I’m in Australia and have never tipped a hairdresser here in my life. Nobody I know tips hairdressers.

It’s $200+ for a cut and colour. Plus, Australia is not a tipping culture

I never do, but am always worried I should have.

I spend around £150 for colour, but generally have everything done by the salon owner (smallish salon) even wash and blow dry.

I kind of figure as she owns the salon tips are a bit irrelevant? Not sure though

I never tip. My loyalty is their tip!

I tip, but then I get my hair cut at a college, so it's super cheap.

I never tip.

My hairdresser isn't cheap and probably earns more than me. (Wont go into the whole why tip some jobs and not others/feeling like Lady Bountiful).

Besides that, I go every six weeks so I'm sure she prefers repeat visits rather then 3 quid here and there.

I give a quid tip on an £18 wet cut. I'm stingy.

my DH and parents are very into tipping, they think its scandalous that I only tip if someone goes above and beyond because the person is often working for peanuts they argue. But if I tipped everyone they think I should, I'd be skint myself!

Persons they believe should be tipped are: window cleaner, milk boy, paper girl, waiter(esses), taxi drivers, food delivery drivers, grocery delivery drivers, hairdressers, gardener, cleaner, beauticians, dog groomer and probably more I can't remember.

I think hairdressers deliberately price themselves at eg £23 or £38 so that you feel awkward waiting for your change and make them keep the rest. They also do a show of spending ages searching for change to give you again it's obvious to try to get you to let them keep it.

Half the country is working for peanuts! I hate tipping and service charges. The cost of a meal should include it being delivered to your table. The cost of the meal should include you being told about the ingredients. Shop assistants are poorly paid, ditto care assistants, ditto street cleaners, the list is endless! No tipping anyone makes sense to me. The cost of employing staff at a reasonable rate should be factored into the price. That’s fair and reasonable. Angst about tipping isn’t.

I respect the right of anyone not to tip, but I always do. I figure that if I can’t afford the tip, I can’t afford the haircut. Used to go to £120-150 highlight place, can’t afford to do that now so I have a hairdresser at home. Still tip. I don’t have colour done at the moment, because I can’t afford it so do my own.

I do think it’s an awkward thing though. My mum didn’t tell me about tipping hairdressers and I was in my mid twenties before I knew people did!

So do you tip everyone who offers a service to you? If not, why not? Will your Mum tip her care assistant if she ever needs one? These people are on the minimum wage. Why are there some services where tips are seen as normal but others where a tip is never offered despite being grotty work? It’s bizarre.

No I don't. It's expensive enough to go to the hairdressers.

I don't tip when the owner cuts my hair. That has always been the rule, though I wonder if it's only because I'm an old bird I know that and the world has moved on and everyone just thinks I'm cheap? The thinking behind it is that employees are paid a salary and/or percentage set by the employer and the profits end up with the owner.

But anyone else I tip 10-20% depending on what they've done, how good the service was and how much it all cost.

My hair is between £110 and £125 every six or seven weeks for foils, cut and blow dry. Always leave a tenner. If I need a quick spruce up inbetween because we are invited out at short notice she will always fit me in even if it's just a quick damp and style.